Verbena plant named &#39;Sunvivaro&#39;

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a Verbena plant which has erect growth habit and good plant height. The plant has plentiful flowers in a spike, and great profusion of blooms. The blooming period is late April to November and flowering duration is long. The whole bush remains in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flower size is large and the petal color of the flowers is vivid purplish red without eye. The plant is highly tolerant to heat, and has high resistances to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew, and high resistance to rain.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofverbena plant obtained from crossing a wild type of verbena plantVerbena peruviana (♀) native to Brazil and another wild type of verbenaplant Verbena peruviana (♂) native to Brazil.

[0002] Verbena is a very popular plant and is used for flower beddingand potting in the summer season. There are only a few varieties ofVerbena plants which is much branching, many flowers in a spike, a longflowering duration and which have a high resistance to rain, heat, cold,and disease. Accordingly, this invention was aimed at obtaining a newvariety having a erect growth habit, strong branching, many flowers in aspike, long fLowering duration, high tolerance to heat and cold, andresistances to diseases and pests, and also having a vivid purplish redcolor petal.

[0003] The new variety of Verbena plant according to this inventionoriginated from crossing of a wild type of verbena plant Verbenaperuviana (♀) native to Brazil and another wild type of verbena plantVerbena peruviana (♂) native to Brazil.

[0004] First of all, 32 seedling were obtained in the autumn of 1993,from crossing a wild type of verbena plant VBA (Verbena peruviana f.rosea) as female parent and another wild type of verbena plant VBB(Verbena peruviana f. rosea) as pollen parent in the spring of 1993.From this crossing, one seedling was selected in view of erect growthhabit, branching and petal color, and propagated by cutting, and thengrown as a trial by flower bedding and planter from the spring of 1994.Finally a trial by flower potting and bedding was carried out on theselected one plant to the autumn of 1995. The botanicallycharacteristics of the selected one seedling was examined, using similarvarieties ‘Sunvivapa’ (Appl. No.8239 under the Seeds and Seedlings Lawof Japan) and ‘Showtime blaze’, for comparison. As a result, it wasconcluded that this Verbena is distinguishable from any other varietywhose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in itscharacteristics. This new variety of Verbena plant was named‘Sunvivaro’.

[0005] In the following description, the color-coding is in accordancewith the Horticultural Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England (R.H.S. Color Chart), and the Inter-Society ColorCouncil-National Bureau of Standards Color Name (I.S.C.C.-N.B.S. ColorName). A color chart based on The Japan Color Standard for HorticulturalPlant (J.H.S. Color Chart) is also added for reference.

[0006] The female parent VBA and the pollen parent VBB, used in theobtaining of this new variety ‘Sunvivaro’, was a wild type of verbenanative to South Brazil and Verbena peruviana. This wild type of verbenaplant is presently maintained at the Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORYLtd., residing at 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun,Yamanashi-ken, Japan.

[0007] The ‘Showtime braze’, used as a comparison for this new variety‘Sunvivaro’, is on the market. The petal color of ‘Showtime braze’ issimilar to that of ‘Sunvivaro’. The main botanical characteristics of‘Showtime braze’ are as follows.

[0008] Plant:

[0009]Growth habit.—Erect.

[0010]Plant extension.—Medium.

[0011]Plant height.—High. (25-35 cm).

[0012] Stem:

[0013]Diameter.—Medium.

[0014]Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.

[0015]Pubescence.—Present.

[0016]Prickle.—Absent.

[0017]Branching.—Medium.

[0018]Subterranean stem.—Absent.

[0019]Length of internode.—Medium. (3-4 cm).

[0020] Leaf:

[0021]Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.

[0022]Shape of blade.—Hastate. (Type II).

[0023]Blade incision.—Present.

[0024]Depth of blade incision.—Shallow.

[0025]Shape of leaf margin.—Serrated.

[0026]Length.—Medium.

[0027]Width.—Medium.

[0028]Color.—Dark green. (R.H.S. color chart No. 137B, JHS color chartNo.3508).

[0029]Pubescence.—Present.

[0030]Petiole.—Absent.

[0031] Flower:

[0032]Shape of cluster.—Obconical. (Type II).

[0033]Spike length.—Medium.

[0034]Spike diameter.—Medium.

[0035]Facing direction.—Upward.

[0036]Outward curvature of petal.—Curved.

[0037]Diameter.—Large.

[0038]Height. —Long.

[0039]Color of petal.—Deep reddish orange (R.H.S. color chart No.47A,J.H.S. color chart No.0708).

[0040]Eye color.—Absent.

[0041]varigation.—Absent.

[0042]Color presentation.—Substantially even.

[0043]Overlapping of petals.—Separate.

[0044]Incision of petal.—Present.

[0045]Number of petals.—Medium.

[0046]Calyx incision.—Present.

[0047]Calyx length.—Long.

[0048]Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Present.

[0049]Pistil shape.—Two lobes.

[0050]Stamen number.—Medium.

[0051]Anther color.—Yellowish green.

[0052]Peduncle diameter.—Thin.

[0053]Peduncle length.—Short.

[0054]Number of flowers.—Medium.

[0055]Flower fragrance.—Absent.

[0056]Flowering time.—Medium.

[0057]Flowering duration.—Medium.

[0058] Physiological and ecological characteristics:

[0059]Tolerance to cold.—Medium.

[0060]Tolerance to heat.—Low.

[0061]Resistance to diseases.—Low.

[0062]Resistance to pests.—Low.

[0063] The ‘Sunvivapa’ used as a comparison for this new variety‘Sunvivaro’ is our bred variety and was filed in Japan in 1995 and soon. The main botanical characteristics of ‘Sunvivapa’ are as follows.

[0064] Plant:

[0065]Growth habit.—Erect.

[0066]Plant extension.—Medium.

[0067]Plant height.—High. (40-50 cm).

[0068] Stem:

[0069]Diameter.—Medium. (2-3 mm).

[0070]Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Present.

[0071]Pubescence.—Dense.

[0072]Prickle.—Absent.

[0073]Branching.—Abundant.

[0074]Subterranean stem.—Absent.

[0075]Length of internode.—Medium. (4-5 cm).

[0076] Leaf:

[0077]Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.

[0078]Shape of blade.—Hastate. (Type II).

[0079]Blade incision.—Present.

[0080]Depth of blade incision.—Shallow.

[0081]Shape of leaf margin.—Crenate.

[0082]Length.—Medium. (4-5 cm).

[0083]Width.—Medium. (3 cm).

[0084]Color.—Moderate Olive green. (R.H.S. color chart No.146A, J.H.S.color chart No.3509).

[0085]Pubescence.—Present.

[0086]Petiole.—Present.

[0087]Petiole diameter.—Medium.

[0088]Petiole length.—Medium.

[0089] Flower:

[0090]Shape of cluster.—Funnel-shaped. (Type III).

[0091]Spike length.—Medium. (3 cm).

[0092]Spike diameter.—Large. (4-5 cm).

[0093]Facing direction.—Upward.

[0094]Outward curvature of petal.—Slightly curved.

[0095]Diameter.—Large. (20-30 mm).

[0096]Height.—Long.

[0097]Color of petal.—Deep reddish purple. (R.H.S. color chart No.78A,J.H.S. color chart No.8907).

[0098]Eye color.—Absent.

[0099]Varigation.—Absent.

[0100]Color presentation.—Substantially even.

[0101]Overlapping of petals.—Separate.

[0102]Incision of petal.—Present.

[0103]Number of petals.—Medium.

[0104]Calyx incision.—Present.

[0105]Calyx length.—Medium.

[0106]Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Present.

[0107]Pistil shape.—Two lobes.

[0108]Stamen number.—Medium.

[0109]Anther color.—Yellowish green.

[0110]Peduncle diameter.—Medium.

[0111]Peduncle length.—Medium.

[0112]Number of flowers.—Medium.

[0113]Flower fragrance.—Absent.

[0114]Flowering time.—Late.

[0115]Flowering duration.—Long.

[0116] Physiological and ecological characteristics:

[0117]Tolerance to cold.—High.

[0118]Tolerance to heat.—High.

[0119]Resistance to diseases.—High.

[0120]Resistance to pests.—High.

[0121] The new variety of Verbena plant ‘Sunvivaro’ was asexuallyreproduced by cutting at the aforementioned Hakushu Nursery Center ofSUNTORY Ltd., residing at 2913-1-Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun,Yamanashi-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof wereconfirmed.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0122] This new variety of Verbena plant has erect growth habit andplant high is high. The plant has many branchings and plentiful flowersin a spike, and great profusion of blooms. The blooming period is lateApril to November and the flowering duration is long. The whole bushremains in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flower petalcolor is vivid purplish red color and have not eye. The plant is highlytolerant to heat, and has a high resistance to pests and diseases,particularly powdery mildew and high resistance to rain. Mediumresistance to cold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0123]FIG. 1 is photograph giving a partial view of the new variety ofverbena plant planted in the ground.;

[0124]FIG. 2 is a photograph of flowers of the new variety of verbenaplant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

[0125] The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety ofverbena plant, ‘Sunvivaro’ are as follows.

[0126] Plant:

[0127]Growth habit.—Erect.

[0128]Plant extension.—Medium.

[0129]Plant height.—Medium to high. (25-29 cm).

[0130] Stem:

[0131]Diameter.—Medium. (1.4-3.0 mm).

[0132]Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.

[0133]Pubescence.—Present.

[0134]Prickle.—Absent.

[0135]Branching.—Medium.

[0136]Subterranean stem.—Absent.

[0137]Length of internode.—Short. (1.0-1.8 cm)

[0138] Leaf:

[0139]Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.

[0140]Shape of blade.—Hastate. (Type II).

[0141]Blade incision.—Present.

[0142]Depth of blade incision.—Shallow.

[0143]Shape of leaf margin.—Serrate.

[0144]Length.—Medium.

[0145]Width.—Medium.

[0146]Color.—Grayish olive green. (R.H.S. color chart No.137A, J.H.S.color chart No.3716)

[0147]Pubescence.—Sparol.

[0148]Petiole.—Present.

[0149]Petiole diameter.—Medium.

[0150]Petiole length.—Short.

[0151] Flower:

[0152]Shape of cluster.—Funnel-shaped. (Type III).

[0153]Spike length.—Medium. (2.0-4.3 mm).

[0154]Spike diameter.—Medium to large. (4.5-5.4 mm).

[0155]Facing direction.—Upward.

[0156]Outward curvature of petal.—Slightly curved.

[0157]Diameter.—Large. (18-22 mm).

[0158]Height.—Medium.

[0159]Color of petal.—Vivid purplish red (R.H.S. color chart No.66A,J.H.S. color chart No.9707).

[0160]Eye color.—Absent.

[0161]Varigation.—Absent.

[0162]Color presentation.—Substantially even.

[0163]Overlapping of petals.—Separate.

[0164]Incision of petal.—Present.

[0165]Number of petals.—Medium.

[0166]Calyx incision.—Present.

[0167]Calyx length.—Long.

[0168]Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent.

[0169]Pistil shape.—Two lobes.

[0170]Stamen number.—Medium.

[0171]Anther color.—Yellowish green.

[0172]Peduncle diameter.—Thin.

[0173]Peduncle length.—Long.

[0174]Number of flowers.—Many.

[0175]Flower fragrance.—Absent.

[0176]Flowering time.—Medium.

[0177]Flowering duration.—Long.

[0178] Physiological and ecological characteristics:

[0179]Tolerance to cold.—High.

[0180]Tolerance to heat.—Medium.

[0181]Resistance to diseases.—High.

[0182]Resistance to pests.—High.

[0183] This new variety of Verbena plant is most suitable for flowerbedding and potting, particularly in planters, and is further excellentfor ground cover.

[0184] The plant of this new variety, ‘Sunvivaro’ is presently plantedand maintained at the Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORY Ltd., residingat 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan.

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as hereinillustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by(A) having a erect growth habit, (B) having plentiful flowers in a spikeand great profusion blooms, the whole bush remaining in bloom for aconsiderable period of time, (C) having a long flowering duration, (D)being the petal color of the flowers a vivid purplish red without eye,(E) having a high resistance to rain, heat, drought, diseases and pests.